Editorial: Panhandle chairman holds key to full accountability

Texas House State Affairs Committee Chairman David Swinford has delivered on one key promise for more accountability in the Legislature.

Now he needs to go all the way and allow his committee to vote on a series of bills designed to require recorded votes on all measures that come before the House of Representatives.

Swinford, R-Dumas, will conduct a hearing - as promised - on Monday. At issue are bills meant to force lawmakers out of the habit of casting non-recorded or voice votes on legislation. These votes give lawmakers room to wiggle out of explaining themselves. Swinford, who opposes mandatory recorded votes, argues unpersuasively that the current system provides for such votes on every bill because a legislator is assumed to favor a bill unless he or she tells House clerks to record a "no" vote. That's not good enough.

The issue is whether the Legislature will write a law requiring such votes or continue to operate under rules subject to leaders' whims.

The mandated record votes issue has the support of more than 100 civic and political groups - including the Texas Democratic and Republican parties.

It's time to close the deal on recorded votes. Unblock the path to full accountability, Chairman Swinford.